Clarets fans in court after cricket pitch brawl

Six Burnley FC fans – including one from Clitheroe – who were involved in a cricket pitch brawl with rival Southampton supporters have been sentenced.

The fight, last December 13th, was caught on CCTV, with the coverage played before Burnley Magistrates’ Court at the sentencing.

Michael Tomlinson (20), of Abbot Walk, Clitheroe, together with Michael Wilson (21), of Highfield Avenue, and Daniel Dugdale (21), of Lower Manor Lane, both in Burnley, each pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

The defendants, who had never been in trouble before, were each fined £100 and each given three-year football banning orders.

Three Burnley youths, two aged 16 and one 17-year-old, also admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour and appeared before the town’s Youth Court on the same day. The trio, none of whom had any previous convictions, were each given a referral order and the 17-year-old received a three-year banning order. They cannot be named because of their ages.

Prosecutor Mr Dominic Howell told the hearings that in total nine Burnley fans were being brought before the court. He said the Southampton fans alleged to be involved in the trouble had not been identified, but information had been passed to Southampton police so that, hopefully, they would be able to say who some of them were.

Mr Howell said there was a fight at the entrance to the cricket ground and missiles were said to have been thrown. The disorder took place in front of members of the public.

Mr Dylan Bradshaw, in mitigation for the three adults, said all were of previous good character and all were working. He continued: “All have, apart from this, impeccable backgrounds.”

l Thomas Pritchard (24), of Cog Lane, Daniel Luke (22), of Paisley Street, both Burnley, and Callum Warburton (19), of Wordsworth Road, Accrington, all denied using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour. Pritchard also denied being drunk and disorderly. They will face trial at a later date.